22:22 was commissioned by FLAMIN (Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network) and directed by British film director Charlotte Ginsborg with music written for a film by Gabriel Prokofiev and performed by GéNIA combined with the choreography by the Russian choreographer Kirill Burlov. This is also GéNIA’s debut as a voice over artist.

Still from 22:22

The film ’22:22′ paints a vivid portrait of Tom Sietas, a world record in Static Apnea, the ability to hold ones breath under water. The film interweaves underwater photography of the record attempt with a contemporary dance performed to a live piano score. As the tension of the record attempt mounts, the story that links the two activities is revealed through the pianist’s live narration. The film interweaves documentary and fiction to reveal what drives Tom to push his body to such physical extremes; for Tom to deny breath is to find life.

’22:22′ will be shown as part of London Film Festival 2017 with the Premiere on the 14th of October 2017 at the BFI (British Film Institute) at 6:30 pm.

Tickets will go on sale on the 14th of September 2017. Please visit BFI website for booking.

I have no words to say how touched I was by my audience and the St James Theatre atmosphere, that made my performing experience truly memorable. I also would like to thank my team of filmmakers, photographers and music production for helping me to organise and capture the evening.

I also want to say special thanks to Jose Hendo Label for providing the most beautiful dress for my performance. The dress was recently featured on CNN and BBC, as it was made from the barkcloth and performing in it, made me feel more rooted and connected with nature.

GéNIA at St James Theatre. Photo by Viktoria Kravtsova

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Thank you so much again to everyone who came – without you it would not be possible.

As you can see from the above, Sweet Memories is being used to promote this year’s edition of Crouch End Festival. It is the UK’s biggest community arts festival, a volunteer-run event which takes place in North London, and GéNIA is very happy to be able to support it in this way.

The festival provides a platform for local artists of all varieties, including musicians, actors, designers, poets, painters, comedians… you get the idea! Grass roots level support of local artistic talent is an important part of any community, and it is also an important way of encouraging art that is innovative and new. As well as this, Crouch End Festival works to facilitate collaboration between artistic talents, a crucial dimension to any artist’s growth.

The festival doesn’t just help to develop artistic ties, it strengthens ties between the entire community that comes out to support it. Crouch End Festival has something to offer all age groups, and by bringing these people together, it makes the area stronger. It would be a strange community event if it didn’t try to get all of its community involved!

Historically, bringing communities together was one of the most important functions of art. It is wonderful to be able to contribute to a festival which still recognises this importance today.

If you haven’t seen it already, GéNIA’s latest trailer showcases three original compositions on her second EP: Sweet Memories, Mon Amour, and London-Paris. Even if you’ve heard the songs before, the video gives you a great view of GéNIA’s playing that you simply couldn’t get live.

The album is inspired by a cup of coffee, and this is perhaps most apparent on the first of the three tracks, Sweet Memories. It evokes a sense of nostalgia and calm, a sense that is familiar to all of us who like to sit in cafés and to watch the world go by. The second piece, Mon Amour, is slower and filled with more melancholy than the first, reminding us of how it feels to reminisce upon the past, and perhaps even upon what we have lost. This changes as we reach London-Paris; GéNIA’s music has departed from reflection and looks towards the future. It brings a sense of anticipation and possibility; the increase in tempo and dynamics also creating the feeling of the intent and purpose that comes with travel.

Also worth your attention: if you listen closely, you can hear GéNIA conjure up the effect of a chorus during London-Paris – the piano really starts to sound a little like the human voice!

This video, recorded in September 2014 in Nice, France, is a great opportunity to see and hear GéNIA at her most virtuosic. Paganini Jazz is a demanding piece, and with a very clear view of the piano keyboard, the video offers a window into how GéNIA approaches this challenge. For those who want some insight into her technique, this is footage that can be carefully studied.

It is also a chance to hear how GéNIA handles Jazz; something of a departure from both her classical repertoire and her songwriting. That the answer is ‘very well’ is evident from the way she navigates the contrasting moods of the piece, and manages to maintain such a smooth playing style even in the most up-tempo and dramatic of moments. It is also evident from the standing ovation she receives at the end of the song! A dynamic performance full of variety, it is certainly worth a few minutes of your time to investigate.

As well as being an outstanding rendition, GéNIA’s performance was on this occasion in support of UNICEF, and the funds raised from the concert meant that 560 girls throughout Guinéa, Mozambique, Togo, Malaisie and Madagascar received an education for a year. Good music for a good cause!

GéNIA has just released the next in her series of live videos filmed at one of her concert earlier this year. Here GéNIA gives a performance of ‘The Last Dance’ from her EP ‘Dreams of Today, Thoughts of Tomorrow’.

A piano improvisation performed by GéNIA. Recorded just before she set out to Paris, this improvisation encapsulates the movement and change of travel while expressing the ever shifting emotions experienced during the transformation.

German sculpture artist Alice W. Bakker has used GéNIA’s rendition of Adagio from the Piano Sonata by Sofia Gubaidulina in a piece combining both sculpture and dance. The concept behind the video is of a dancer meeting one of Alice’s sculptures. The meeting is very tender, as if she wants to awaken the sculpture. Her movements are a reaction to the fact that the sculpture is made of steel; frozen in its movement and is inspired by the moving lines in the sculpture and its expression, in such a way that both steel and human skin are merging together.

During August, GéNIA will be performing at the stunningly beautiful Schloss Wartegg in Switzerland on Sunday 11th August 2013. Schloss Wartegg Castle has a deep history as a center of culture and hosts several concerts and performances throughout the year. This, coupled with the magnificent surroundings, made Schloss Wartegg the perfect venue for GeNIA to perform tracks from her new album as well as piano classics from Beethoven and Chopin.